I've made them homesick!.... A noble sort of suffering .... nobler than hunger. It is a comfort to see their pain change organs, and pass from their stomachs to their hearts!
CARBON.
But you will weaken them!
CYRANO (motioning to a drummer to come up).
Never mind! The heroes' blood that is in them will soon arouse them!
(He motions to the drummer, who begins beating his drum.)
ALL THE CADETS (rushing to their arms).
Hey!.... What?.... What is it?....
CYRANO (smiling, to Carbon).
You see that, at the sound of the drum, dreams, longings, thoughts of home, of love,....all fly away. What comes by the fife goes by the drum.[24]